Method and apparatus to manage messaging providing different communication modes depending on one identifier and not requiring to disclose contact information
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. An article for managing messaging of a plurality of users using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, with different communication modes allowed, depending on each of the plurality of users having an identifier for use with the different communication modes, with the corresponding identifier being set via the network-based portal, and without requiring the plurality of users to disclose their contact information to each other, the article comprising:
- a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions, when executed by at least a server, result in the at least a server;
providing a plurality of communication modes to a first user to allow the first user to use one of the plurality of communication modes as a selected communication mode for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal,wherein the plurality of communication modes include at least text communication using a personal computer, voice communication using a personal computer, text communication using a mobile phone, voice communication using a mobile phone, and communication with at least an image, andwherein messages are eligible to be received by the electronic device associated with the second user based on any of the plurality of communication modes, all depending on an identifier associated with the second user being set by the second user via the network-based portal, at least in view of the network-based portal based on the Internet protocol;
receiving an urgency indication regarding the message, wherein the urgency indication being from the first user via an electronic device associated with the first user; and
enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected communication mode, based on the identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from using the selected communication mode to reach the second user, via the network-based portal, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least a server,further result in the at least a server;
receiving, from the second user, contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to participate and at least receive messages via the network-based portal;
determining availability of the second user; and
enabling a notification to reach the second user via the network- based portal, at least in view of receiving the urgency indication regarding the message and at least in view of the first user not being blocked from reaching the second user via the network-based portal, with the notification for notifying the second user,wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user depending on the identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, andwherein the identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user.
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Abstract
A number of embodiments regarding computer-implemented systems and methods to manage electronic communications are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus, using at least a network-based portal based on Internet protocol, provides different communication modes to a first user, with messages eligible to be received by a second user based on any of the modes, depending on an identifier associated with the second user; and receives an indication from the first user to select a communication mode for a message for the second user. In the embodiment, the apparatus could receive contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to participate, with the contact information not provided to the first user even when the message is received by the second user, and with the contact information being distinct from the identifier.
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Citations
70 Claims
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1. An article for managing messaging of a plurality of users using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, with different communication modes allowed, depending on each of the plurality of users having an identifier for use with the different communication modes, with the corresponding identifier being set via the network-based portal, and without requiring the plurality of users to disclose their contact information to each other, the article comprising:
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a non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions, when executed by at least a server, result in the at least a server; providing a plurality of communication modes to a first user to allow the first user to use one of the plurality of communication modes as a selected communication mode for a message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, wherein the plurality of communication modes include at least text communication using a personal computer, voice communication using a personal computer, text communication using a mobile phone, voice communication using a mobile phone, and communication with at least an image, and wherein messages are eligible to be received by the electronic device associated with the second user based on any of the plurality of communication modes, all depending on an identifier associated with the second user being set by the second user via the network-based portal, at least in view of the network-based portal based on the Internet protocol; receiving an urgency indication regarding the message, wherein the urgency indication being from the first user via an electronic device associated with the first user; and enabling, via the network-based portal, the message to be received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected communication mode, based on the identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from using the selected communication mode to reach the second user, via the network-based portal, wherein the plurality of instructions, when executed by the at least a server, further result in the at least a server; receiving, from the second user, contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to participate and at least receive messages via the network-based portal; determining availability of the second user; and enabling a notification to reach the second user via the network- based portal, at least in view of receiving the urgency indication regarding the message and at least in view of the first user not being blocked from reaching the second user via the network-based portal, with the notification for notifying the second user, wherein even when the message is received by the second user through the electronic device associated with the second user depending on the identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user through the electronic device associated with the first user, and wherein the identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code stored therein for managing electronic communications of a plurality of users using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, with different communication modes allowed, depending on each of the plurality of users having an identifier for use with the different communication modes, with the corresponding identifier being set via the network-based portal, and without requiring the plurality of users to disclose their contact information to each other, said computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for providing a plurality of communication modes to a first user to allow the first user to use one of the plurality of communication modes as a selected communication mode for a first message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, wherein the plurality of communication modes include at least text communication using a personal computer, voice communication using a personal computer, text communication using a mobile phone, voice communication using a mobile phone, and communication with at least an image, and wherein messages are eligible to be received by the electronic device associated with the second user based on any of the plurality of communication modes, all depending on an identifier associated with the second user being set by the second user via the network-based portal, at least in view of the network-based portal based on the Internet protocol; computer program code for permitting the second user to block the first user from using at least the selected communication mode to reach the second user via the network-based portal; computer program code for enabling, via the network-based portal, the first message to be received by the second user via the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected communication mode, depending on the identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from using the selected communication mode to reach the second user, via the network-based portal; computer program code for determining availability of the second user; and computer program code for receiving, from the second user, contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to participate and at least receive messages via the network-based portal, wherein even when the first message is received by the second user via the electronic device associated with the second user depending on the identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user via an electronic device associated with the first user, and wherein the identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer-implemented method for managing electronic communications of a plurality of users using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, with different communication modes allowed, depending on each of the plurality of users having an identifier for use with the different communication modes, with the corresponding identifier being set via the network-based portal, and without requiring the plurality of users to disclose their contact information to each other, said method comprising:
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providing a plurality of communication modes to a first user to allow the first user to use one of the plurality of communication modes as a selected communication mode for a first message from the first user to a second user via an electronic device associated with the second user, with the first user being identified at least depending on a prior registration process by the first user regarding the use of the network-based portal, wherein the plurality of communication modes include at least text communication using a mobile phone, voice communication using a mobile phone, and communication with at least an image, and wherein messages are eligible to be received by the electronic device associated with the second user based on any of the plurality of communication modes, all depending on an identifier associated with the second user being set by the second user via the network-based portal, at least in view of the network-based portal based on the Internet protocol; permitting the second user to block the first user from using at least the selected communication mode to reach the second user via the network- based portal; enabling, via the network-based portal, the first message to be received by the second user via the electronic device associated with the second user, using the selected communication mode, depending on the identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from using the selected communication mode to reach the second user, via the network-based portal; determining availability of the second user; and receiving, from the second user, contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to participate and at least receive messages via the network-based portal, wherein even when the first message is received by the second user via the electronic device associated with the second user depending on the identifier associated with the second user, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user via the electronic device associated with the first user, and wherein the identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A non-transitory computer readable medium including at least executable computer program code stored therein that facilitates electronic communication of a plurality of users using at least a network-based portal at least based on Internet protocol, with a plurality of modes of communication available for the plurality of users to communicate, with each of the plurality of users having an identifier for use with the plurality of modes of communication, and without requiring the plurality of users to disclose their contact information to each other, the computer readable medium comprising:
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computer program code for providing a plurality of modes of communication to a first user to allow the first user to use one of the plurality of modes of communication as a selected mode of communication for a first message to be sent from the first user to a second user, based on an identifier associated with the first user previously set by the first user via the network-based portal, wherein the plurality of modes of communication supported by the network-based portal include at least text communication using a personal computer, voice communication using a personal computer, text communication using a mobile phone voice communication using a mobile phone, and communication with at least an image, and wherein messages are eligible to be received electronically by the second user via the network-based portal, based on any of the plurality of modes of communication, all depending on an identifier associated with the second user previously set by the second user via the network-based portal, which allows the second user to efficiently maintain the second user'"'"'s communication using the plurality of modes of communication; computer program code for permitting the second user to block the first user from using at least the selected mode of communication to communicate with the second user via the network-based portal, based on the identifier associated with the first user; computer program code for enabling the first message to be electronically provided to the second user, using the selected mode of communication, depending on the identifier associated with the second user, in view of the second user not blocking the first user from using the selected mode of communication to communicate with the second user, via the network-based portal; computer program code for determining availability of the second user related to receiving messages; and computer program code for receiving, from the second user, contact information associated with the second user to allow the second user to participate and at least receive messages via the network-based portal, wherein even when the first message is received by the second user via the selected mode of communication, the contact information associated with the second user is not provided via the network-based portal to the first user, and contact information associated with the first user is not provided via the network- based portal to the second user, so as to provide an option to the second user to keep the contact information associated with the second user confidential from the first user, and to provide an option to the first user to keep the contact information associated with the first user confidential from the second user, and wherein the identifier associated with the second user is distinct from the contact information associated with the second user, and the identifier associated with the first user is distinct from the contact information associated with the first user. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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Specification